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Sunday, 6 March 2016

Did You Know Series (32): (Part I): "Birds of the Himalayas": A set of 48 Postcards issued by the Department of Posts, India:

Did You Know Series (32): (Part I): "Birds of the Himalayas": A set of 48 Postcards issued
by the Department of Posts, India:

The Himalayas is a
mountain range which separates the Great Indian Plains from the Tibetan
Plateau. This range is home to nine of the ten highest peaks on Planet Earth,
including the highest – Mount Everest. The abrupt rise of the Himalayan
Mountains from less than 500 metres to more than 8000 metres in a few hundred
kilometres has resulted in a huge diversity of flora and fauna. Nearly 1000
birds have been recorded in the Himalayas of which at least 15 species are
fully endemic.

India Post has brought out
this 48 Post-Card set on 48 species of birds which are found in the Himalayas:

Rufous-capped Babbler

The Rufous-capped babbler (Stachyridopsis ruficeps): is a
species of bird in the Timalidae family. Ranging across the Indian subcontinent
and South-East Asia, it is endemic to Bhutan, hong Kong, India, Laos, Myanmar,
Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are sub-tropical or
tropical moist lowland forests and sub-tropical or tropical moist montane
forests.

The Spot-winged Tit (Periparus melanolophus): is also known as
the black-crested Tit. It is a bird in the Paridae family. It is found in
boreal forests and temperate forests in the Northern parts of the Indian
sub-continent, mainly in the Himalayas ranging across Afghanistan, Bhutan,
India, Nepal and Pakistan.

International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status:
Not Recognised (NR).

Himalayan Woodpecker

The Himalayan Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis): is a
species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in the Northern Regions of
the Indian sub-continent, primarily in the Himalayas and some adjoining areas
and ranges across Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhtan and Pakistan. Its natural
habitats are boteal forests and temperate forests.

The Chestnut-headed Tesia (Cettia castaneocoronata): is a
songbird species formerly in the “Old World warbler” category, but now placed
in the bush warbler family (Cettidae). It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are
sub-tropical or tropical moist lowland forests and sub-tropical or tropical
moist montane forests.

The Himalayan Cutia (Cutia
nipalensis): is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae. The species
inhabits the Himalayan region, from India to Northern Thailand. Its natural
habitat is tropical to sub-tropical humid montane forests. It is not a bird of
the high mountains, however, prefers to inhabit broadleafforests, for example
of oats (Quercus) – of the foothills upwards of 1500 metres ASL (Above Sea
Level), but rarely ever ascends above 2500 metres ASL.

The Streaked Laughing Thrush (Trochalopteron lineatum): is a
species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family. It is commonly found in the
Northern Regions of the Indian sub-continent and some adjoining areas, ranging
across Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal,Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda): is a species of
sunbird in the Nectarinidae family. It is found in the Northern parts of the
Indian subcontinent, primarily in the Himalayas and also in some adjoining
regions in South-East Asia. Its atural habitats are temperate forests and
sub-tropical or tropical moist montane forests. They live in conifer forests at
altitudes up to 4000 metres, descending into the valleys during the cold
season. They eat insects and nectar. Both parents take part in feeding the
young.

The Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis): is a
species of small flycatcher-like bird found in tropical Asia. They are found
mainly in forested habitats where they often join other birds in a “hunting-party”
of mixed species foraging flocks. Many populations are resident, but some
Himalayan birds are partial migrants that winter in peninsular India, sometimes
even occurring in arid habitats. The Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher is an
insectivore and like flycatchers makes sallies for aerial insects from a low
perch under the canopy of a tree. A pair may forage together and they will
often join mixed species foraging flocks.

The Greylag Goose (Anser anser): is a large migratory goose with
a wide range in the Old World. The “lag” portion of the common name was derived
from the fact that they are one of the last geese to migrate, lagging behind
other migrating geese. They breed in South-Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and
Soviet Countries from the Urals to Manchuria, migrating to India, Burma and
South China for the winter.

After the breeding season,
the birds will undergo a complete simultaneous replacement of all their flight
feathers, leaving them unable to fly for about a month – until the new feathers
are fully grown – hence the lag in travelling . Prior to this molt, large
flocks undertake molt migrations to areas that offer plenty of feeding
opportunities and safe roosting sites. They occupy a wide variety of habitats.

The Sirkeer Malkoha or
Sirkeer cuckoo (Phaenicophaeus laschenaultii): is a member of the cuckoo order
of birds, the Cuculiformes. This cuckoo, like other Malkohas is non-parasitic.
It inhabits the sub-Himalayan Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka.
Stalks about amongst thickets like a crow-pheasant, searching for food,
insects, lizards, fallen fruits and berries etc. Runs swiftly through
undergrowth looking like a mongoose.

The Fire-fronted Serin or red-fronted Serin (Serinus pusillus):
is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It prefers high
mountain regions and is found in Ladakh and other parts of the Indian
Himalayas. Outside the breeding season, it occurs in small flocks, typically
seen searching through thistle patches. This bird will breed in captivity, as
well. It loves to bathe daily, if water is available.

The Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria): is the only member of the
genus Tichodroma and very closely related to the Nuthatches. A bird of the high
mountains, the Wallcreeper breeds at elevations ranging between 1,000 – 3,000
metres (or 3,300 to 9,800 feet). This species is resident across much of the
Himalayas, ranging across India, Nepal, Bhutan and parts of Tibet. The Wallcreeper
is an insectivore, feeding on terrestrial invertebrates – primarily insects and
spiders – gleaned from rock faces. It sometimes also chases flying insects in
short sallies from a rock wall perch. Feeding birds move across a cliff face in
short flights and quick hops, often with their wings partially spread.

The Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata): is a species of bird
in the Leiothrichidae family. It feeds on berries and insects.Heterophasia
capistrata): is a species of bird in the Leiothrichidae family. It feeds on
berries and insects. It is found in the Northern parts of the Indian
sub-continent, ranging across Nepal and Bhutan. Its natural habitat is the
temperate forests of the Lower to Middle Himalayas. The species has an
unmistakable appearance with its crest raised. It is a vigorous, melodius
singer.

The Common Rosefinch
(Carpodacus erythrinus): is the most widespread and common rosefinch of Asia and
Europe. It has a stout and conical bill. The mature male has a brilliant
rosy-carmine head, breast and rump. Females and juveniles are dull coloured.
Common Rosefinches breed from the Danube valley, Sweden, and Siberia to the
Bering Sea, the Caucasus, Northern Iran and Afghanistan, the Western Himalayas,
Tibet and China to Japan between latitudes 25 deg. And 68 deg.

The Brown Parrotbill (Chlomis
unicolor): is found in the Central and Eastern Himalayas. This is a 17 – 19 cm
long grey brown bird with a long tail and a characteristic small yellowish
parrot-like bill. A dark stripe runs above the eyes and along the sides of the
crown. They move in small groups and will sometimes join mixed species hunting
parties/foraging flocks. Originally described in the genus Heteromorpha, they
are now usually treated as members of the family Paradoxomithidae.

The Dollarbird (Eurystomus
orientalis): also known as the Oriental Dollarbird is a bird of the Roller
family, so named because of the distinctive blue coin-shaped spots on its
wings. It is found in India, East Asia, South-West Pacific and Northern
Australia. It has a length of up to 30 cm. It is most commonly seen as a single
bird with a distinctive upright silhouette on a bare branch in a high tree,
from which it hawks for insects, returning to the same perch after a few
seconds. This bird prefers open wooded areas with hollow-bearing trees to build
its nests in.

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .